Chopta Chandrashila Tungnath Trek

The trek from Chopta (8,790 ft) begins with a fairly gentle stone trail through a beautiful rhododendron forest. As one treks above 12,000 ft above the first part of your trek becomes much more difficult. However, the difficulty change that happens at this point is due to the thin air causing your body to work relatively harder than it would normally. Following the temple is a 1.5-kilometer scramble to the summit of Chandrashila (13,123 ft), which makes this final section of the trek a legitimate challenge. The path then becomes steep and is composed of rocks, where you will face strong winds (especially in the winter) and sometimes ice and snow in addition to needing to have mental determination and self-confidence. This section of the trek shows that, although the Chopta Chandrashila trek may be labelled as easy, respect for the altitude must be afforded to this trek regardless of its accessibility, because when you are at an altitude of over 12,000 ft, you will notice that the direction of the gradient becomes significantly steeper and the oxygen levels of the atmosphere become significantly reduced.

1. Terrain - High-altitude geological features

• The Trail: The route ascends via a number of steep switchbacks paved with large stones within the rhododendron forests. After passing the tungnath temple the pavement disappears to be replaced with a raw rocky trail that runs along a narrow ridge line leading to the summit.
• The Challenge: The easy paved trail is misleading, the stones are jagged and uneven, and whilst going down hill, your knees take a pounding as they exit your body from the stone surfaces. The final stretch to the summit of Chandrashila consists of a steep ascent over loose rock and scree. You will have to watch where you step.
• Honest Take: This is a stairmaster trek that provides few opportunities to catch your breath on the way to the summit. Your calves will burn as you ascend and your toes will feel like they took a beating going back down.

2. Altitude: Manageable but not negligible

• The Stats: You start at 2,600 m (Chopta) and ascend to 3,690m (Chandrashila)
• The Challenge: In one day you will gain over 1,000m. When you ascend past approximately 12,000 ft, the amount of effective oxygen available is dramatically lower than at sea level. At that altitude, you may experience dizziness, headaches, and an increased rate of exhaustion.
• Honest Take: This is the most probable cause of unsuccessful summits. The length of the trek is so short that the majority of trekkers will tend to rush the ascent and thus run into complications from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).

3. Weather: For Beauty, Expect the Unexpected

• The Condition: Weather conditions can change within minutes at the summit; it may be clear blue skies at 8 AM to have a localized snowstorm or heavy fog at 10 AM.
• The Challenge: With high-velocity winds along the Chandrashila Ridge, temperatures may feel from 5 to 10 degrees colder than what they really are. Black ice makes the stones on the trail as glass in winter.
• Honest Take: Don't depend on the Morning Sun. If you do not carry a windproof jacket or poncho, you are risking hypothermia. The beauty will have a sharp bite on a cold day.

4. Duration and Remoteness: Mental Challenge

• The Stats: About 10 km of total round trek from Chopta Base Camp to summit and back.
• The Challenge: 10 km may seem like an easy distance to run on the road; however, due to the vertical rise to reach the summit, it feels like 20 km. Once you reach Tungnath, you will not find a shop or a place to exit easily. You will be on a ridge between the Himalayas to one side and a steep drop on the other side.
• Honest Take: The real mental battle happens between Tungnath and the top of the summit. You can see the temple on top of the mountain but it seems like it is not getting any closer. There is no summit grit left to complete the last 500 m when you think you can’t go on.

The truth about the Chopta Chandrashila Tungnath trek is twofold: once familiarised, the trek is relatively easy for seasoned trekkers, whilst at the same time, continuing to have an unexpected rise up on those who have never trekked before. Calling this trek simply a walk in the woods ignores that for anyone without experience, the physical toll of ascending 8,790 ft. to over 13,000 ft. in one day would be more than enough to test the capabilities of any novice's cardiovascular system. The paths leading to Tungnath are well-marked which helps give novice trekkers confidence, however, the last leg of the trek will see them having to put everything on the line to reach their goal, which is highly difficult. In summer, during good weather, the trek will serve as a good entry to the Himalayas for any novice; however, when winter hits, and the winters are blistering cold, the trek will become a full-fledged mountaineering event with very different demands and requirements in gear and overall fitness level.

The Beginner Friendly Ascent

Chopta to Tungnath, the beginning slide of the trek (~3.5km); would be considered an easily navigated Himalayan trail. It follows along a well-built, stone pathway within the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. The stability of the pathway provides a very stable base for your foot placement; anyone who is in average physical condition and has a comfortable pair of trekking shoes will find this section very easy to manage and navigate. The trekkng gradient here is moderate, enabling you to enjoy the beauty of the ancient Rhododendron forests and potential sightings of the Himalayan Monal without being overly exerted. Most trekkers feel this part of the journey is a pleasing uphill stroll rather than a difficult journey.

The Summit Push

The next section has changed dramatically during the last 1.5 kilometres between Tungnath Temple and Chandrashila Peak at 13,123 feet. This is the area where your challenges begin to become challenging; the mountain begins in earnest at this point. You will no longer see the paved paths that you trekked on before this point but will move up very steep and rocky areas, alongside narrow ridge lines. After you cross through the 12,000 ft. elevation (over about 3,600 meters), the available oxygen will be at about 60% of sea level pressure, so each ten steps can become a real test of lung capacity. Many novice trekkers will have to move from casual trekking to a more focused and rhythmic summit crawl, where trekking speed does not matter as much as proper breathing.

The Environmental Aspects

The physical environment is only half of the challenge to reach the summit; the physical conditions of the weather also impact the trekking environment's total difficulty. When you begin in June to September, the section of the trail is a well-maintained and dry path; however, during the winter months, it is really becoming a moderately to very challenging trek. For between December and March, this section is typically buried under approximately waist-high snow, and you must trek the last few metres up the summit as a huge and very slippery sheet of blue ice. You will require some type of equipment, such as either micro-spikes or gaiters, and be prepared to endure far more intensive physical endurance to push through the ice winds that are also very cold and moving at very high speeds that come off of the summit ridge.

Verdict:

So, if you're a novice trekker, this is a great option to consider, as long as you're not overly confident about trekking at 4,000 m+. This is because you will have little experience with the altitude aspect of this trek. However, this trek is unique in that it offers a summit experience where you can stand on top of a mountain (with 360-degree views) without the need for any technical trekking skills. The summit is earned through hard work, and as such, requires steady breathing, cardiovascular preparedness, and mental strength to keep trekking when both the air is thin and the incline increases.

If you're a trekking enthusiast  looking to reach the top, but you don't want to spend multiple days trekking the tough terrain, a trek to Chopta Chandrashila Tungnath will give you a real summit experience. This trek is an ideal starting place for those who have never trekked before and will allow you to adjust to the higher altitudes (13,000 ft) and low oxygen levels in a safe environment. It provides you with an incredible visual reward of being able to see 360 degrees of both the Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba mountain ranges for such a short trekking period. This trek is ideal for time-starved tourists and photographers, but it is also for anyone who is willing to do a steep ascent trek for a breathtaking view of the Himalayas after only a few hours of extraordinary effort.

1. The Future Himalayan Trekker

For those of you that have spent months looking through photographs of the Himalayas but are intimidated by the concept of going on an expedition styled trek, The Future Himalayan Trekker is for you! This trek gives you an introduction to high altitude (13,000 ft +) without the requirement of being completely committed to a 7-day trek. You'll still be able to enjoy a true summit experience; the feeling of being on top of the world and experiencing thin air with steep ridges. However, you will have the comfort of going back to your cozy guesthouse in Chopta each evening.

2. The Weekend Warrior Adventurer

Chandrashila is different from most treks where you have to set aside an entire week of your life for one trek. Chandrashila doesn't require more than a weekend to get there and enjoy maximum visual reward and a drastically shorter time investment compared to most other treks. It arguably has the highest rewards to effort ratio of any trek in India.

3. The Test Your Fitness Trek

Pass This Trek was designed for people that want to see if they will be able to handle thin air at higher elevations. The trails are set up so that you will experience an easier section first, followed by progressively harder sections. If you can handle this summit push, then you will be prepared and ready for more challenging treks such as Kedarkantha and Roopkund.

4. For Families and Photographers

The paved route up to Tungnath offers many families (especially those with children aged 8 and older) the option of bringing their kids along, making this one of the few high-altitude treks that parents can do together with their families. For photographers looking to capture the Golden Peaks during the sunrise, this is a perfect trek, as the short duration allows for departure from the base camp at approximately 3:30 AM, allowing for reaching the summit well before sunlight has a chance to hit the mountains. 

Verdict:

The initial 3.5 km of the trek to Tungnath is an extremely beginner-friendly trek with its paved paths and a steady forest incline, however, the last 1.5 km ascent to 13,123 ft. is a true rocky scramble that requires strength. At this point, the easy label becomes irrelevant and the difficulty level significantly increases as the air becomes thinner and requires steady breathing and mental focus to find your way through the uncomfortably thin atmosphere. In conclusion, while the summit will be the ultimate prize for any first-time trekker in reasonable physical condition, reaching it requires respect for the altitude rather than simply strolling to the top.

The unique sprint nature of the Chopta Chandrashila trek, combined with how this trek is almost at maximum altitude with the least amount of trekking (compared to all the other popular Himalayan treks) clearly sets it apart. Below is the honest comparison of Chopta Chandrashila vs. its nearest competitors.

1. Chopta Chandrashila vs. Dayara Bugyal Trek

Dayara Bugyal is arguably a gentle trek, due to its rolling meadows and consistent gradual incline. On the other hand, the Chandrashila Trek is sharper with a steeper gain overall. If you're looking for a nature walk at a relatively low level of difficulty (12,000 feet above sea level), Dayara Bugyal will be your best option. On the other hand, if you would rather experience a successful summit (in other words, the reward at the top of the mountain) and have a sense of being in a genuine mountain trekking environment, Chandrashila might be your best choice.

2. Chopta Chandrashila vs. Kedarkantha Trek

Both the Kedarkantha and Chandrashila treks are excellent beginner summit treks. However, the Kedarkantha Summit Trek is a minimum of five days and requires camping for multiple days and trekking through forested terrain. Chandrashila is only a one to two day summit trek, but the final push to get to the top of Chandrashila is much steeper and more exposed compared to the broad ridge of Kedarkantha.

3. Chopta Chandrashila vs. Sandakphu Trek

Sandakphu is a six-day long, physically demanding ridge walk (covering almost 55km) with a relatively low summit scramble (compared to Chandrashila). For the same reason, on a daily basis, Sandakphu will require a lot of physical effort on the legs, simply because of the number of kilometres trekked each day.

Verdict: 

Chandrashila is considered easier in comparison to the other trekking trails due to the overall duration of the trek being shorter and no need for a multi-day camping trek. However, it’s also considered hard due to the rapid ascent to high altitudes. It is the only trek in this category where you will ascend close to 4,000 feet in just a single morning and will therefore present a slightly higher risk of altitude sickness (AMS) than other treks where gradients are much less pronounced overall.

Your physical preparation for the trek will consist of two essential components: building your engine and training for a layered system.

1. Physical Preparation: Building Your Engine

While the trek is suitable for beginners, you must quickly ascend to higher altitudes, so your heart and lungs will work very hard. Begin working out approximately 2–3 weeks before your planned trek.

-Cardiovascular Workouts: Focus on developing your lung capacity, and aim to be able to run 3–5 km or walk briskly for at least 30 minutes every day. If you can converse while you run, your aerobic level is ready for the thin air at around 13,000 feet.

-Stair Trekking Simulation: As this entire trek requires trekking on a continuous incline, spend at least 15 minutes trekking stairs every day. This will specifically condition your calves and quadriceps for the steep, rocky paths from Tungnath to Chandrashila.

-Strength and Stability: Incorporate simple bodyweight strengthening exercises into your daily workouts such as squats (3 sets of 15 repetitions) and lunges; these exercises will help to strengthen your eccentric leg strength. By building this strength, you will have more stability and prevent your knees from buckling when descending steep slopes from Chopta.

-Breathing Techniques: Adding a Pranayama or deep rhythmical breathing practice into your physical preparation will be your best asset as the oxygen level will drop during the final summit ascent. Learning to take prolonged, deep belly breaths will also help you physically and mentally through your trek, regardless of the altitude.

2. Gear Preparation: The Layering System 

Weather at Chandrashila is notoriously unpredictable. In extreme environments (below freezing), having the correct clothing is essential for survival. 

-The 3-Layer rule 

• Base Layer: Moisture-wicking thermal materials (synthetics), (avoid cotton materials; they retain moisture and chill).
• Mid layer: Fleece or light down jacket for warmth and insulation of body heat.
• Outer layer: Windproof/waterproof outer shell such as Gore-Tex for protection against high wind speeds at glow.

-Footwear: Opt for mid-ankle trekking shoes with deep lugs (gripping capability); allow these shoes at least one week to break prior to your trekking trail in order to avoid blistering.

-Trekking Poles: For beginners, a pair of trekking poles are paramount. They provide four-wheel drive capabilities to reduce impact on your knees by as much as 25% and support critical balance over the treacherous ridge.

-Accessories: Wool hat (80% of your heat dissipates from your head), UV protective glasses (to avoid snow blindness), headlamp for 4:00 AM sunrise starts.

Final Verdict:

Dehydration is the leading cause of beginner unsuccessful summits, even above fitness levels. At altitude, we lose approximately twice as much moisture via respiration, as compared to water loss from breathing/living at sea level; therefore, you must begin drinking between 3 and 4 litres of water a day while in Chopta to adequately oxygenate your blood and prevent hypoxia.